I was searching for an ocean conservation internship in Indonesia and the reviews for SSI Instructor Joma Dix and Project Laut were universally excellent.
Follow-up research of collateral materials and direct communication with Joma confirmed my choice. Once on location, I knew I was where I belonged. No doubts then or since.
Alumni Spotlight: Kevin Sites
Title:
AuthorPhotos
Author of the novel, The Ocean Above Me (Harper, Summer 2023).
Award-winning journalist and former Associate Professor, The University of Hong Kong.
Award-winning journalist and former Associate Professor, The University of Hong Kong.
Why did you choose this program?
What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?
This was an independent effort (I'm quite a few years from both my undergraduate and graduate studies), But Joma and staff were very helpful in determining travel and stay logistics as well as local transportation options. Once on Nusa Penida, I was treated like family with group dinners and outings, never once felt anything less than fully engaged.
What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?
It's a fantastic, hands-on program. Small and focused. If you're motivated you can do anything from scientific diving, welding, and digital species documentation. If you want to continue advancing in your dive training there are options for that as well--and Joma is one of the most knowledgeable, talented and patient instructors in the region.
What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?
Varies, but includes building metal coral habitats, called "spiders, " placing them on the seabed and attaching coral, documenting numbers and movement patterns of Hawkbill turtles during dives, and later using "facial recognition" software to create an active database. If you're seeking additional diving certifications, Joma Dix is one of the best in the region. You can verify this by watching some of his training videos on my YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/c/kevinsites
Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?
This isn't quite applicable as I've been living and traveling abroad for most of my adult life, however, we all face fear and insecurity when trying new things. This is natural, but I've found pushing past those obstacles and following through has rewarded me more richly than I could ever imagine. And I count this time with Joma and Sita at Project Laut as one of my most prized experiences.
Write and answer your own question.
One of the incredible dives with Project Laut included spotting a Giant Frogfish and watching it seek out and interact with Project Laut's director, Joma Dix. Priceless!